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“Drinking can make us prone to minor accidents that people may dismiss as part of an average night out," he said, "but it can also be the cause of serious accidents that can lead to people needing medical intervention.

“There are two main things that make this likely. Because it’s a depressant, alcohol slows down the brain and affects the body’s responses.

Across Plymouth's hospitals in January, 2,155 people were left waiting in A&E for more than four hours

“At the same time, if you’ve been drinking, you’re more likely to take risks. Combined, these reactions increase the chance of accidents happening.

“To keep yourself and others safe, it is best not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis.

“If you regularly drink 14 units per week, it is recommended that you spread your drinking evenly across three or more days, rather than ‘saving’ the units and having them all in one go.”

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The kind of drinking that leads to unintentional injuries does more than harm your health, however - it is a massive burden on NHS staff, and can leave others waiting for treatment.

Across hospitals in Plymouth, 2,155 people were left waiting in A&E for more than four hours in January alone - 18 per cent of all attendances.

Heavy drinkers are being warned of the dangers and extra strain on A&E services (Image: File image)

Andrew Misell, director of Alcohol Concern, said: “Across the UK, our A&E departments are increasingly stretched. One of the avoidable issues they face are the injuries sustained as a result of alcohol.

“Aside from the obvious pressure this puts on hospitals, emergency treatment for alcohol-related injuries and illnesses is not enough; many of these injured people will be people who drink heavily and need more than emergency support if they are going to avoid return visits to A&E in the near future.